IPOD

Etsy was the first individual stock I ever purchased when it IPOd. RIP.

Does anyone else think AI will hit a major bust around Q1 2026? I haven't seen that "iPod moment" yet—the event that makes consumers rush out to buy a product that fundamentally changes how we interact with technology. So far, it seems like AI is mostly being used internally by companies, and it’s still mostly about optimization, not consumer-facing breakthroughs. More bloodletting in the business world seems likely as companies continue to try and cut costs. From a pure business model standpoint, if the cost of production (materials, time, labor, etc.) gets close to zero, you're essentially reaching 100% efficiency. There will always be some erosion, of course, but that’s what businesses seem to be pushing for: to maximize operational efficiency and, ideally, get to "net zero" costs using AI. For example, roles like Sales Operations, which are all about spreadsheets and data analysis, are easily automated with AI. I know several people in those roles who are already looking for an exit, because they see the writing on the wall. What do you think? Is AI just heading toward a slowdown, or is there a major consumer-facing breakthrough around the corner?

They're playing the intro music on someone's ipod lol